Working Against Cloud Implementation Risks

By CIOReview | Wednesday, June 21, 2017

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An email server behind the firewall can be accessed internally, and it can be connected to the Internet for remote access. When the mail server is hosted in the cloud, it becomes more accessible, but it includes considering the cloud risk concerns. Some of the general threats involve distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, data loss, data breaches, and insecure APIs. As the security risks are mainly surrounding the cloud service provider, it is important to foresee the security measures they have in place.

Unlike personal static server setup, cloud service providers have more resources to implement and monitor security. If a user has systems behind a firewall, they rely on their own IT staff to ensure a secure firewall, updated software, and monitoring security breaches. For instance, the small businesses that run an Internet-based phone system, behind a firewall, have to make it accessible to the Internet resulting in hack attacks. The reason behind successful hacks is that the firms do not keep up on software patches, which is a weekly exercise. Hence, it is recommended to stay updated with newest software versions and best practices for security.

Managing Cloud Risk Concerns

It is necessary for consulting experts for the recommendation of a secure cloud application service provider that has tested and implemented a robust security. Also, experts will be able to tell what type of encryption and safety measures need to be applied in a specific firm to use those cloud services. For instance, while offloading security and data to a cloud service provider, organizations need to make sure that they are implementing strong security in their storage environment. With most companies sharing organizational data outside the office, cloud services work the best concerning scalability and security. It is necessary to ask a cloud service provider about the best practices and recommendations to implement in the organization to use their services securely. Some security questions should be related to the security practices, past breaches, and protection against future violations. As the responsibility shifts to a third party, organizations have to know that provider that follows best practices.

Cloud-provider Security Prerequisites

Service providers must have secure encryption techniques, actively monitor security breaches, and implement best security practices. They must also have a secure facility with data access control, APIs, and protection for data loss. In the case of data loss or removal due to a security breach, it is essential to know the situation of the provider’s backup systems. The last thing is to understand the vendor’s protection against denial-of-service attacks. As we move to the cloud, there is a constant fear of hackers who could attack the cloud offering as a whole and take down every customer connected to the network. One of the major benefits of a cloud provider is that, unlike small organization, they have the resources and the staff to invest in security and monitoring.

Security Concerns against VOIP

With VOIP technology, organizations have to keep user names and passwords secure. Organizations should avoid sending credentials to them through email or share them with other employees. Having a privately managed Internet connection from the VOIP service provider allows the provider to implement direct security on the connection by encrypting the data. Some VOIP offerings use the public Internet connection instead of a private connection. In such cases, physically wiretapping is the only option. While calling over the Internet, it is important to find if the provider uses a private network and encryption. As a lot of providers offer call recording features, one should know whether that provider is using best-practice security measures to secure call records and user data.

Future Trends and Solutions

As cloud-based phone service becomes the norm, the demand for managed Internet service will increase. Although mobile devices are becoming more powerful, companies are going to focus primarily on the application, network, and content environments that drive and enable a truly connected workforce and reduce specific device choices. Employees will find it increasingly simple to understand company procedures, get up to speed on internal systems and access shared resources. As cloud makes SMBs global, time zones will become irrelevant for business—providing the ability to serve clients 24/7 with local presence in numerous countries.